The Nebraska Pharmacists Association (NPA) is looking for member pharmacists to run for its elected Board of Directors. The deadline to submit candidacy is July 17. For more information, contact NPA Chief Executive Office Marcia Mueting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Medicaid held a pharmacy stakeholder group meeting to discuss the transition of pharmacy benefits from Managed Care back to fee-for-service which is to be finalized by April 1, 2021. The state anticipates a savings of $87.5 million (state share) for SFY 2021-22 which will be achieved through increased rebates to the state, 340B savings, and other efficiencies by eliminating Medicaid Managed Care plans/PBMs which have margins in process now. Medicaid will host pharmacy stakeholder meetings through this transition process.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
SB 808, sponsored by Senator Harry Brown (R) has been signed by Governor Roy Cooper (D). The bill was effective upon signature and makes appropriations for the implementation of the Medicaid Transformation in the state of North Carolina. The bill also verifies Departmental receipts for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to implement the measure and also appropriates such money from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Health benefits to be utilized for Medicaid and NC Health Choice programs to assist with projects related to Medicaid managed care.
Also in North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) issued a Statewide Standing Order for Diagnostic COVID-19 Testing. State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson issued a statewide standing order for COVID-19 diagnostic testing as well as a temporary order and associated guidance that, among other things, requires all healthcare providers ordering or conducting COVID-19 diagnostic tests to report all results, positive or negative. NC DHHS also issued patient guidance for isolation and quarantine while waiting for, and after receiving, COVID-19 diagnostic testing results. Additional details and links can be found here.
Also in North Carolina. A qualifying military-trained or military-spouse pharmacist license or pharmacy technician applicant is exempt from the initial application fee. The state has posted FAQs that provide more detail.
Also in North Carolina. The Board of Pharmacy has posted a reminder to all pharmacy and DME permit holders that NABP E-Profile numbers will be required for 2021 renewal. Board Rule .1615 requires all pharmacy and DME permit applicants and holders to obtain and report an e-Profile number issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) as a condition of permit issuance or renewal. Details and instructions may be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
SB 943, a bill that prohibits PBMs from restricting pharmacists’ ability to discuss cost-sharing amounts and other information regarding drug costs to patients, was amended on third consideration then passed unanimously by the Senate and the House. Commonly referred to as a “gag clause” prohibition, the amended bill is on its way to Governor Wolf (D) for signature.
Also in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf (D) announced the approval of the Department of State’s request to suspend the age limitation of 9 years old for pharmacist-administered influenza vaccines. The waiver, which specifically allows pharmacists to provide any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine to individuals 3 years of age or older, was effective July 2 and will be in effect for 90 days after the current state of emergency related to COVID-19 ends.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) issued guidance for Healthy Connections Medicaid providers on how to receive reimbursement through the new COVID19 Limited Benefit Program. Learn more in the Medicaid provider bulletin here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Last week, Assembly Member Jim Wood (D), chair of the Assembly Health Budget Committee, gutted and amended AB 1710 to allow pharmacists to initiate and administer FDA-approved vaccines. NACDS is seeking an amendment to allow FDA-authorized vaccines too.
Also in California. Prior to the July 1, 2020 deadline required in the state constitution, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the 2020 Budget Act – a $202.1 billion spending plan that closed a $54.3 billion budget shortfall caused by the COVID-19 recession.
Also in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom extended for 60 more days, until September 9th, his Executive Order issued on May 12, 2020, waiving the restrictions on pharmacists ordering and collecting specimens for COVID-19 tests.
Also in California. Because several legislators have tested positive for COVID, neither the Assembly nor Senate are returning to work at the Capitol next week. The legislature shutdown for two months earlier this year because of the pandemic.
Also in California. NACDS and the California Board of Pharmacy submitted the attached joint letter to the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee opposing AB 2983 which imposes inefficient requirements that will impede that automated refill process causing delays in patient access.
Also in California. NACDS virtually presented to the Board of Pharmacy’s Licensing Committee and Legislative and Regulation Committee on pharmacists immunizations and COVID testing and the authority to perform CLIA-waived tests for COVID19. Presentations can be found here.
Also in California. NACDS sent a joint letter with the California Retailers Association and the California Pharmacists Association to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to issue an Executive Order removing the remaining barriers to expanding access to COVID testing by pharmacists.
Also in California. In response to the Governor’s emergency declaration and consistent with the authority of the Board to waive Pharmacy Law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it, last week the Board president extended the following previously approved limited waivers:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS submitted a letter to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies- Board of Pharmacy requesting a permanent waiver allowing pharmacists to independently order and administer COVID-19 tests, including serology tests, that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or equivalent regulatory authorization, subject to the disclaimers and limitations required by the FDA, in addition to any CLIA-waived point-of-care tests. NACDS also recommended that pharmacists may delegate the administration of any vaccines and immunizations, including vaccines authorized by the FDA to trained pharmacy interns or pharmacy technicians.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On June 29, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB.59, sponsored by Representative Matt Willhite (D), which authorizes a community pharmacy to use an automated pharmacy system, effective July 1, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
With SF 2357 recently signed into law, prescriptions issued by a Physician Assistant are no longer required to include the name of the supervising physician. For more information, please see the Iowa Board of Pharmacy newsletter.
Also in Iowa. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy published a response to the June 25 Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.